Colleen M. (Casey) Gokey

Colleen (Casey) Gokey, 77, of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin died peacefully on Sunday, December 14, surrounded by her family at her home. She lived a life rooted in family, creativity, and steady kindness. She was born on November 30, 1948, in Frankfurt, Kentucky, to Timothy Casey and Eileen (O’Neill) Casey.

Both of Colleen’s parents served in the U.S. Army. Her mother was an Army nurse during World War II, and her father served as an Army major who continued to fight in the Philippines as part of guerrilla resistance efforts following the end of the war. Colleen grew up in a military family and spent her childhood in many places, including Okinawa, Japan; Palmer, Alaska; and Rockford, Illinois. These early years shaped her adaptability, independence, and ease with people from all walks of life.

She graduated from DeSales High School in Ossian, Iowa in 1966. She later trained as a surgical technician and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, where she worked at Mercy Hospital. Colleen loved working in the operating room and formed friendships there that would last a lifetime.

Colleen’s life took a memorable turn in the fall of 1979. She was in Prairie du Chien for her cousin's wedding, and after the reception the celebration continued at The Main Entrance where she met Paul Gokey. What started as a chance conversation, and by Paul’s account, some dancing to Spanish guitar, quickly grew into something deeper. They felt an immediate connection and just over a year later, they were married on December 19, 1980, at St. John's in Independence, Iowa. Their ceremony was intimate and simple, with only the officiating priest and their mothers, Phyllis (Nolan) Gokey and Eileen (O’Neill) Casey, as witnesses. Paul and Colleen made their home in Prairie du Chien, where they built a life together and raised their family.

Colleen enjoyed making things with her hands, especially crafts and woodworking. Over the years, she took on a wide range of projects, from small handcrafted gifts to larger woodworking pieces. She found particular joy in creating Christmas decor, thoughtfully crafting pieces that became cherished parts of holiday traditions. Family and friends still proudly display her beautiful work year after year, a lasting reminder of her talent and generous spirit. She later spent many years working at the Gokey family business, Pete’s Hamburger Stand, where she took great joy in visiting with customers and making everyone feel welcome.

She is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Paul, and her beloved family, including her children, Patrick Gokey of Anchorage, Alaska; Casey Gokey (Aaron Kuivila) of Anchorage, Alaska; and Megan Gokey of Detroit, Michigan; her grandchildren, Arlo and Forest Kuivila of Anchorage, Alaska; her siblings Sheila (Mark) Cannon of Iowa City, Iowa; Kevin (Diane) Casey of Cuba City, Wisconsin; Tim Casey of Van Horne, Iowa; Terry (Lisa) Casey of Fort Worth, Texas; Mary Catherine Casey (Robin Connell) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Bridget (Dean) Krempges of Independence, Iowa; as well as a large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Her family will deeply miss their matriarch, whose warmth and quiet strength shaped their lives and multiple generations of their family. A graveside service to honor her life will be held in July in accordance with her wishes. Colleen’s family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be made to Coulee Cap Food Pantry.